The region of Cuyo comprises the provinces of Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja and San Luis.

Mendoza and the Aconcagua

Mendoza was founded in 1561 by Pedro del Castillo, under the authority of Don Garcia Hurtado de Mendoza, then governor of Chile. Present-day Mendoza is one of the main Argentine cities with 773,000 inhabitants. Built on lands with a high incidence of ground-shaking phenomena in the past, not much of its colonial architecture has been left in the city. However, Mendoza is an appealing city with wide forested avenues and impressive parks. During the second half of the XIX century, the Argentine wine industry grew remarkably, especially in Mendoza which today is known as the national wineland. Visiting local vineyards is one of the finest pleasures this city offers in addition to its slow-pace provincial lifestyle. The city was built at the foot of the Andes and set against the highest peak of the mountain range: the Aconcagua.

Ischigualasto and Talampaya Parks

On December 11, 2000, UNESCO recognized these two parks as world heritage sites in view of their exceptional landscapes. Both can be accessed from Mendoza. Talampaya exhibits sensational geological formations and, particularly, red cliffs.